Category Archives: Artists Interviews

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Jeff Parrott

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Jeff Parrott. Currently I am a Course Director at Full Sail University teaching the Game Art Degree Program as well as a full-time freelance prop and environment Artist in the video game industry. I recently finished www.retrogradegame.com as an Art Director. I have also worked on a couple of Ratchet & Clank games, a Jak and Daxter title, a Silent Hill game, and a bunch of freelance projects. www.environmentartist.com is my online art portfolio.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Probably the craziest job I’ve had before working in the video game industry was working in a arcade. One of those ticket redemption arcades. Absolutely have appreciation for people that work in those places. It’s also another place where I learned to love games as an interactive medium.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Finishing Retro/Grade as an Art Director is probably my most proud moment so far. I have had the opportunity to work with insanely talented people and great people on every project I’ve contributed too. I’m very excited for what the next project around the corner is.

 

How did you become interested in animation?
I became interested in games after an instructor at Full Sail, Chad Kendall, got me excited about video games. He really opened my eyes to Continue reading

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Matthew Tardiff

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az7dOh1LfrM&feature=plcp

What is your name and current occupation?
Matthew Tardiff,Freelance Animator/Director/Creator/etc @ Hummingbird and the Lotus,Animation Instructor @ Full Sail University focusing on Game Animation.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Hmm, that’s a tough one. Starting at age 15 I worked for a slew of different jobs; starting with fast food, construction, call center, sales, restaurant, car salesman, fast food again, stock, claims representative, art store wall flower etc. I probably left out some stuff because there were a few years there that will never return to my memory.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Jimmy Neutron ,My first legitimate animation gig where I realized how much I did not know about animation but somehow kept my head above water long enough to learn some valuable life lessons. I’m not being humble; my animation skills as a whole were shit in hindsight. Lunchables (only because I got to work @ Wildbrain in San Francisco)

How did you become interested in animation?
For as long as I can remember I’ve loved to draw, create, make things move and take objects apart. But there were several points in time that directed me to animation. The first one was in 6th grade. A class mate showed me a Continue reading

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Tom and Jerry and the Lost Dragon- releases on Sept 2nd

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But UNTIL then, check out these nice lil preview clips!

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Promote Yourself: Media Release

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MEDIA RELEASE
SLR PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES CREATIVE TEAM LINE-UP FOR SECOND
SEASON OF THE AWARD WINNING CLASSIC
“GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU – The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare”
Sydney, Australia – August 25 2014…
SLR Productions today announced the impressive creative team line-up for the second season of the award winning internationally acclaimed pre-school animated series, GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU – The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare. The incredibly talented SLR Productions team of Jo Boag and Melanie Alexander will return to the
series as Creative Director and Script Producer respectively. They will also be joined by returning Director, Steve Moltzen. David Evans, winner of two Australian Writers’ Guild AWGIE awards for episodes in season one (in 2012 for “Follow Me” and in 2013 for “I Promise”), will be part of the team as will Jane Schneider, 2012 and 2013 Australian Writers’ Guild AWGIE award nominee, and Lisa Hoppe, 2013 Australian Writers’ Guild AWGIE award nominee, along with David Witt and Tammy Burnstock. This season, they will be joined by four new writers, Rachel Spratt, Cleon Prineas, Charlotte Hamlyn and John Armstrong. Executive Producer and CEO of SLR Productions, Suzanne Ryan said, “The success of season one as a global pre-school favourite is testament to the show’s highly talented creative team and our dedicated co-production partners, KIKA-DerKinderkanal and HR-Hessischer Rundfunk of ARD and Australian broadcaster, ABC4Kids. I am thrilled to have the directing talent of Jo Boag and Steve Moltzen at the helm of the second series with the amazing writing team head by Melanie Alexander. Together, we will deliver more beautiful episodes of GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU –
The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare”. “The creative team is delighted to once again be working in this lovely meadow of sensual colour and seasonal change, designing and animating tales connecting us all to our own childhood, to the beauty of nature and reminding us of the importance of unconditional love” said Creative Director, Jo Boag. “I am thrilled to be producing the scripts for season two of GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU – The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare. With an amazing team of writers on board again, the stories will be just as entertaining and engaging as those in the first season and will see all our favourite timeless characters return to the meadow for even more fun, friendship, adventure and love” said Script Producer, Melanie Alexander.”I am delighted to be a part of the second season of GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU – The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare. I have seen first-hand what a special place the ‘Guess How Much I love You’ books and now animated series have in the lives of so many families and it is a
privilege to again be involved in bringing to life more heart-warming stories from the world of the Nutbrown Hares and their friends”, said Series Director, Steve Moltzen. The second season of GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU – The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare
was recently announced with KIKA-Der Kinderkanal as a co-production partner and with support from one of KIKA’s parent companies, HR-Hessischer Rundfunk of ARD as well as ABC4Kids. The newly commissioned episodes are exclusive to Australian broadcast partner, ABC4Kids and the series will be internationally distributed by 9 Story Entertainment. The series is based on the bestselling book, GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU™, published by The Walker Books Group and written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram. The book, which is published in 53 languages, has sold 28 million copies globally and is celebrating its 20th anniversary later this year. The animated series relates the adventures of the Nutbrown Hares and their friends with the same endearing charm and love that has made the book a timeless story time favourite.
Always ready to play and laugh, Little Nutbrown Hare bounds through his days with a twitching curiosity. The ever patient Big Nutbrown Hare lovingly leads his son on journeys of discovery about the joys that nature holds. Inquisitive Little Field Mouse and mischievous Little Grey Squirrel often join them on adventures and not too far away they might encounter clever Little Redwood Fox or Little White Owl with her tall tales of mystery and magic. Together they explore the meadows, forests and streams, playing, laughing, and discovering the wonder that the world holds. Season Two of GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU – The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare will keep love as the major theme and each adventure in the series will have a particular season as its backdrop, the wildflowers of Spring, the long, lazy days of Summer, the brilliant colours of Autumn
or the frozen landscape of Winter.

SLR PRODUCTIONS
SLR Productions is one of Australia’s leading Emmy and multi award winning children’s entertainment companies, specialising in the creative development and production of world-class media content. Established in 2002 by CEO, Suzanne Ryan, SLR is recognised for creating successful brands such as Action drama Sam Fox: Extreme Adventures, the internationally acclaimed preschool property, Guess How Much I Love Youâ„¢, the hilarious cartoon series GASP!â„¢ and the Emmy Award winning animated series I Got a Rocketâ„¢. SLR’s passion is to make creative, adventurous, imaginative and exciting programmes for audiences worldwide. The company has produced more than 130 hours of content sold in more than 160 territories worldwide. With its highly experienced development and production divisions, SLR partners with major broadcasters, producers, distributors, publishers and creative both locally and internationally to create hit shows with a truly global reach.

www.slrproductions.com

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Review: The new Scooby-Doo: Franken Creepy!

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Scooby Doo DVD cover

Review: The new Scooby-Doo: Franken Creepy!
-by Megan Milo

The new Scooby-Doo: Franken Creepy! movie is out and turning heads. In an almost alternate universe, the gang is all whacked out of sorts. Daphne has a “bad hair day”, Shaggy goes towards the danger, Scooby isn’t hungry, Velma believes monsters are real, Fred’s Mystery Machine is gone and he can’t seem to forget it… like at all… repeatedly… in lots of exploding flashbacks. With quickly spliced flashes of scenes, we see the whole gang travel to Transylvania to find out what happened to Velma’s monster-creating ancestors; the Dr. Von Dinkenstein’s. When Velma is driven insane by a magical hypnosis wheel while attempting to revive her great-great-uncle’s monster, it’s up to everyone else to save the town and themselves from her crazy wrath. In the midst of Fred losing his Mystery Machine, the girl’s new outfits, and the boy’s new appetite’s, we have a psycho monster to worry about. When the hypnotic wheel is reversed, the gang is back up on their high horses/carriage (watch the film and you’ll get the reference) and ready to un-mask the evildoers. This is a classic Scooby-Doo cartoon that manages to bring all things full circle, beginning to end. Plenty of suspense, diversity, old characters, and crazy old towns. Scooby-Doo manages to make fun of itself and will leave you giggling like a child. Great flick to get your kids back into cartoons!

Frankencreepy Pencils

7/10 pencils, would recommend.

 

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AI Spotlight: Witches Night Out and The Gift of Winter

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AI-spotlight logo 200x100Today we’re going a bit old school as our AI Spotlight shines on some old films that have been restored and brought back to life by my good friend Jimmy Cross, who breathed new life into two of his favorite films from childhood. Interestingly enough the first film “The Gift of Winter” marks SNL Alumni Dan Aykroyd and Gild Radner’s first professional acting gig.
AI: Well let’s start off by having you introduce yourself.
Jimmy: Hi, my name is Jimmy Cross and my partner is the very talented Jonathan Rogers.
AI: So lets talk a little about these two pieces. They truly mark a bit of animation history. Can you tell us a bit of what each film is about?
Jimmy: The first film is called “The Gift of Winter” starring SNL alum Gilda Radner and Dan Aykroyd  and it was made by my partner Jonathan Rogers in 1974. Gift of Winter begins in a place called Anytown and people rise up in protest to stage an exhausting march through sub zero wilderness to confront the Ministry of Winter himself to demand change. Along the way they all learn the true meaning of winter and the gift of winter is born.
Witch’s Night Out is the a continuation of the first film starring Gilda Radner as the Witch and it was made back in 1978.  It’s a spooky surprise when a witch’s magic wand falls into the wrong hands in this nostalgic Halloween special! A treat for the whole family, this magical animated adventure returns to you just in time to celebrate this spooktacular season!When a witch hears of a party being held at her haunted mansion, she decides to bring on the fun! Showing off her magical tricks by turning the kids into whatever they want to be for Halloween. However, when her wand disappears the town is turned upside down!
AI: What led you to make it?
Jimmy: I can’t take credit for making these two wonderful cartoons. But it all started back in 1978 when I was 7 years old. I fell in love with the shows and was blessed to one day become partners with the creator.
AI: Who worked on the film?
Jimmy: Both shows were made by John Leach (now known as Joanthan Rogers) and Jean Rankin of Leach/Rankin Productions back in the 70’s. Both films were independent and I guess in a way they still are.
AI: What technology was used in it’s creation?
Jimmy: Traditional animation but with a twist. Both cartoons were animated straight on cels and straight ahead animation.
AI: Wait, wait, animated directly on cells? That’s insane!
Jimmy: Crazy but true. Also no key frames just free straight ahead animation and drawn directly onto the acetate. Witch’s Night Out was filmed on 35mm film and Gift was 16mm.
AI:  How was it funded?
Jimmy: The CBC (Canadian Broadcast Company)  funded The Gift of Winter and then NBC funded the Witches Night Out. The restoration was independently funded through Semaj Entertainment.
AI: What is the end result for the film?
Jimmy: Well, both films are now for the first time on DVD and digital distribution in North America. They have both been fully restored and we are now looking to do new projects using our casts in both films. Together we have formed Cross/Rogers and are very excited on what the future holds for these stories and where we will take them together. It is truly a wonderful humbling story and a dream come true.
AI: Thanks Jimmy for sharing these truly unique little blasts from the pas. If you’d like to learn more about either of these films there are sites set up for both.